[
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, may His Salaah
and Salaam be upon his final Messenger Muhammad, and upon
all his family members and Companions, to proceed... ]
Regarding
the hadeeth:
"Fasting
begins on the day you all begin to fast, and Al-Fitr (the
'Eed) is the day when you
all have broken your fasts." [1]
At-Tirmithee,
after mentioning this hadeeth, said, "And some of
the people of knowledge explained this hadeeth, saying that
fasting and breaking the fast are both to be done along with
the main body and majority of the Muslims."
And
As-San'aanee said, "In it is evidence that proves
that agreement of the people is needed for establishing the
'Eed, and that the one who is alone in his knowledge of the
moon sighting must go along with the others, and their decision
regarding the prayer, the breaking of the fast, and the day
of slaughtering is binding on him." [2]
And
Ibnul-Qayyim, may Allaah have Mercy on him, explained this,
saying, "And it has been said (by the people of knowledge)
that there is a refutation in this for those who say that
a person can fast and break his fast based on calculated estimations,
without others having knowledge of this. And it has also been
said that if a lone witness sights the moon, and the judge
does not accept his sighting (for some reason), then he himself
does not begin his fast based on it, nor do the people begin
their fasts based on it." [3]
And
Abul-Hasan As-Sindee, after mentioning the hadeeth of Aboo
Hurayrah found in At-Tirmithee's Sunan, said, "And
what is apparent from the hadeeth's meaning is that these
affairs are not for individuals, it is not for people to act
alone in these affairs. Rather, the decision is to be made
by the imaam and the main body of Muslims. It is obligatory
for all individuals to follow the imaam and the main body
of Muslims. So therefore, if one person sees the moon, and
the imaam does not accept his testimony, then he has no right
to go off on his own in these affairs, rather he must go along
with the jamaa'ah." [4]
I
say (Al-Albaanee): This is what seems to be understood from
the hadeeth. This understanding is supported by the way 'Aa'ishah
used it (the hadeeth) as a proof against Masrooq when he did
not want to fast on the day of 'Arafah, fearing that it may
actually be the day of An-Nahr (the 'Eed). She clarified to
him that his opinion has no weight, and that he must follow
the jamaa'ah. She said, "The Day of An-Nahr
('Eed Al-Adh-haa, the day of slaughtering) is the day the
people slaughter, and the Day of ('Eed) Al-Fitr is the day
the people break their fasts."
I
say (Al-Albaanee): And this is what is befitting to the gracious
Sharee'ah that seeks to bring the people together and
unite their ranks, keeping them away from individual opinions
that split their unity. So the Sharee'ah does not give
weight to the opinion of an individual regarding acts of community
worship like fasting, establishing the day of the 'Eed, and
praying in congregation, even when the individual is correct
as he sees it.
Don't
you see that the Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them,
used to pray behind each other, while some of them held that
touching a woman or bleeding nullifies one's wudhoo',
and others did not understand that? And some of them used
to pray the entire prayer during their travels and others
would shorten theirs? Their differing in these affairs and
others did not prevent them from getting together to pray
behind one imaam and being conscience of its importance.
This is because they knew that division in the Religion is
worse than differing over some opinions.
Some
of them ignored opinions that contradicted the leader's position
in great gatherings like the one at Minaa, to the point that
they would abandon their own position totally in such a large
gathering, to escape the fitnah that might result in
their actions based on their position. Aboo Daawood narrated
that 'Uthmaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, prayed four
rak'ahs (not shortening his prayer) in Minaa. 'Abdullaah
ibn Mas'ood detested his action, saying, "I prayed
two rak'ahs behind the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam),
two rak'ahs behind Aboo Bakr, two rak'ahs behind 'Umar, and
I used to pray two rak'ahs behind 'Uthmaan in the beginning
of his leadership, but then he began to complete the prayer
(praying four rak'ahs), and thus the paths became divided.
I only wish that I could have two of the four rak'ahs accepted
from me." Thereafter, Ibn Mas'ood prayed four rak'ahs!
So it was said to him, "You blame 'Uthmaan and then
you yourself pray four rak'ahs?!" He replied, "Differing
is evil." [5]
And
Ahmad narrated this exact account on the authority of Aboo
Tharr [6], may Allaah be pleased with all of them.
So
let the Muslims reflect over what is found in this hadeeth
and in the other narration mentioned, especially those who
never cease to differ over their prayers, those who refuse
to follow some imaams of some masjids, especially with
regards to Witr Prayer in Ramadhaan, claiming that
the imaam is not from their math-hab.
And
some of those who have knowledge of astronomy even fast by
themselves and break the fast by themselves, before or after
the main body of Muslims. They give such great weight to their
own opinions and knowledge, not paying any mind to their khurooj
(rebellion) against the Muslims.
So
let them all reflect over the knowledge that has proceeded,
as they may find a cure to the ignorance and conceit within
their selves. Let them join with the united ranks of their
Muslim brothers, as the Hand of Allaah is over the jamaa'ah.
This
article was taken from BAKKAHnet (www.bakkah.net)
FOOTNOTES
[1]
Saheeh Sunan At-Tirmithee #697
[2]
Subulus-Salaam (2/72)
[3]
Tah-theeb As-Sunan (3/214)
[4]
Haashiyatus-Sindee 'alaa Ibni Maajah (Al-Albaanee did
not mention a page number)
[5]
Sunan Abee Daawood (1/307) with an authentic chain
[6]
Musnad Imaam Ahmad (5/155)
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